Challenges to Democracy: Corruption, Regionalism, Communalism and Social Justice
Questions ask you to define each challenge, distinguish it from a related concept, and name the institutional remedies.
Corruption
Anti-corruption architecture: Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (amended 2018 to punish bribe-givers and require prior sanction); the Central Vigilance Commission, given statutory status in 2003; the CBI; the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, which created a Lokpal for the Union and requires States to set up Lokayuktas. Transparency tools: RTI Act, 2005; e-governance and direct benefit transfer.
Regionalism
Regionalism is loyalty to one's region. It becomes a challenge when it takes the form of secession (Kashmir, parts of the North-East), a statehood demand (Telangana, Gorkhaland, Vidarbha), or inter-State river and boundary disputes. Constitutional responses: States Reorganisation Act, 1956; Art. 371 special provisions; the Sixth Schedule; Zonal Councils (1957).
Communalism
Communalism politicises religion and treats one community as the enemy of another. Causes: colonial divide-and-rule, poverty and competition for resources, communal appeals in elections, rumours and media. Remedies: strict secularism as a constitutional value, prompt action against hate speech, the National Integration Council, and the Sachar Committee (2006) report on minorities.
Social justice
Reservations under Arts. 15(4) and 16(4); Mandal Commission (1980) and the 27 per cent OBC quota implemented in 1990; the 103rd Amendment (2019) giving 10 per cent to economically weaker sections; Indra Sawhney (1992) fixing a 50 per cent ceiling and recognising the creamy layer; the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
Worked example
A State reserves 60 per cent of medical college seats. Reasoning: Art. 15(5) allows special provision in educational institutions, but Indra Sawhney caps total reservation at 50 per cent save in exceptional circumstances; 60 per cent is therefore presumptively invalid unless extraordinary backwardness is shown.
Traps
Regionalism is not the same as secession; communalism is not communitarianism; the SC and ST lists are notified by the President and can be altered only by Parliament.